Plaid Cymru is a left of centre nationalist party that believes in social justice and an independent Wales with a view to attaining Full National Status for Wales within the European Union.

A brief history

The party was founded in 1925 and had its first MP, Gwynfor Evans, elected in 1966. Today, Plaid boasts 11 Assembly members in the Welsh Assembly, 3 MPs at Westminster, 206 county councillors across Wales and 1 Member of the European Parliament.

Plaid entered government in Wales as part of the One Wales coalition in the National Assembly in July 2007. The Welsh Assembly Government is responsible for a budget of nearly £15bn and its responsibilities include Education, Health, Economic Development, Rural Affairs, Culture and Social Services in Wales.

Since the establishment of the party, the position of Wales and the Welsh language have been greatly secured and improved. The successes to which the party has contributed significantly include the establishment of Welsh TV channel S4C, the 1997 referendum victory that led to the establishment of the National Assembly for Wales and the expansion of Welsh language education. These major successes would not have occurred without the campaigning and hard work of Plaid Cymru.

How does Plaid Cymru decide policy?

Plaid policy is decided by Annual conference which occurs every autumn. As well as this every two months the Party’s National Council meets to make policy decisions. Plaid also has regular policy forums where members and non-members are invited to review Plaid policy in a particular area and discuss issues surrounding that area.

What is the Christian heritage of Plaid Cymru?

Christianity has had a very important influence on the party and its beliefs. Plaid Cymru's first president, Lewis Valentine was a Baptist Preacher and the second president, Saunders Lewis, a devout Roman Catholic. When Plaid Cymru president Ambrose Bebb addressed the Party in 1942 on "What sort of Wales will we have?" he declared that his ideal was a "Welsh-Speaking Wales of free, Christian yeomanry - whose faith is most cherished of all." (A Welsh Hundred: Glimpses of Life in Wales by W. Ambrose Bebb).

Since the Second World War, Christianity has continued to be important for the party. Plaid Cymru's first MP and longest serving President, Gwynfor Evans, was a staunch Congregationalist who, in 1954, served as president of the Union of Welsh Independents. Since then Plaid Cymru leaders, Dafydd Elis Thomas, Dafydd Wigley, Dafydd Iwan and Ieuan Wyn Jones have all been active Christians as are many of the party's members in the National Assembly and MPs. Some of them, such as Dr Dai Lloyd AM, preach on a regular basis as Lay Preachers.

Although Christians have had a significant influence in the establishment and development of the party, it has never been an exclusively Christian party and members are very proud that the first ever Muslim Member of the National Assembly, Mohammad Asghar, represents the party in South Wales East. The party also has Muslim and Sikh councillors across Wales. There are of course Plaid members who have no religious affiliation but would acknowledge that without the influence of its Christian heritage and current Christian members the party would be much weaker than it currently is. The party's beliefs in social justice and fairness have been greatly influenced by the Bible, and Christianity will continue to play a crucial part in the development of Plaid Cymru.